Signaling system.



O. B. FRINK.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, I915.

1,258,61 6. Patented Mar. 5, 191&.

NI/ENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLINB. FRIN K, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 HALL SWITCH & SIGNAL 00., A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Application filed March 25, 1915.

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it known t at I, OLIN B. FRLNK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Elizabeth, county of Union, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to normal danger automatic block signal systems for single and double-track railways. The essential feature of the invention, however, may be applied to manual and semi-manual signaling.

The object of my invention is to secure an automatic and reliable system, while at the same time using a minimum number of wires between adjacent signals.

My invention also has for its object the saving in relays and other accessories as compared with systems of this character as heretofore constituted.

My invention is particularly adapted to what are generally known as three-position signals, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it may be applied to home and distant signals also. In the following description it will be described as applied to three-position signals and to a double-track road, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it may be applied to single-track roads as well.

It is a further object of my invention to so arrange the circuits that it will not be necessary to make use of any reverses of current or polarized relays, etc.. but, at the same time, operating three-position signals over a two-wire circuit.

My invention will be more clearly understood by reading the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of the spec-itication and in which are represented three stations showing the condition of the circuits when there is a train in the section \V.

The track is divided into sections V. X and Y which are insulated from each other. Each section of the track is guarded by a signal. Assume a train in track section W, then the wire 18 will be connected to the wire 0 at the signal in rear of the train in a manner which will be described herein after in respect to wire 28. Under this condition there is a circuit from wire 0 through wire 18, 29, the 50 ohm and 800 ohm coils of relay 2B in series, wire 210, 211, contact 2J, Wire 212, 12 ohm coil of relay 2C, wire 213, contact 2G plus side of the battery 2M.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

Serial No. 16,846.

The flow of current in this circuit is suiiiclent to close only relay 2B and is not suiticicnt to close relay 2C. The closing of contacts 21, which are under the control of the relay 2B, completes a circuit for the second position of signal 2 from plus side of the battery 2M through the contacts 21, wire 221, circuit controller on signal through motor to wire 0. \Vhen the signal 2 moves from zero to 45that is, to the second positionit closes the circuit controller 2E.

In following the circuit from wire 18 to wire 29 and to the 50 ohm coil of relay 2B, it will be noted that a shunt circuit has been connected around the 800 ohm coil of relay 2B over the wire 216 of the circuit controller 2E, wire 217, wire 211, contact 2J wire 212, 12 ohm coil of relay 2C, wire 213. contact 2G plus side of the battery 2M.

The shunting of the 800 ohm coil of the relay 2B increases the flow of current sutiiciently to actuate the relay 20, thereby opcn ing the contact 2G of this relay. The opening of the contact 2G makes no change except the condition of the 150 ohm coil of relay 2C which was shunted through this contact. The purpose of the change is to balance the current in the circuit of relay 2B, since the 100 ohm external resistance and 50 ohm relay located at the signal in rear of the train have now been eliminated from the circuit by the closing of a contact at this very'signal, the same as contact 2K of signal 2, which will be further explained hereinafter.

The energization of relay 2C also closes the contact 2H which closes the circuit from wire 0 to contact 2H, wire 218, relay 21), wire 219, 100 ohm resistance 2L, wire 220, contact 2K, wires 27, 28 and 49, both coils of relay aB in series at signal 4, wires 110, 411, contact 4J, wire 4.12, 12 ohm coil of relay 40, wire M3, contact 4G, wire 41 1, plus side of the battery 4M.

It will be noted that the operation of the relay 2G in closing contact 2H connects the wire 28 with the wire 0 in the same wire 0. The connection of the wire 18 to the wire 0, as above referred to, is done in the same manner as the connection of the wire 28 thereto.

The current in the circuit just described is only sufficient to close the relay 4B which will move the signal 1 from zero to 45, or to the second position, in the same manner as heretofore described with relation to signal 2. The movement of this signal to the second position operates the circuit controller lE thereby shunting the 800 ohm coil of relay 4B, but it does not increase the current suficiently to close relay 40 at this time due to the fact that the 100 ohm resistance 2L and relay 2D at signal 2 are in the circuit. The closing of circuit controller 4E, however, does increase the current in the circuit sufliciently to close relay 2D and the closure of this relay contact causes the signal 2 to move from to 90, Or to the third or clear position, by closing contacts 2F, thereby completing a circuit from plus side of the battery 2M through contacts 2F, wire 223, circuit controller on signal through the signal motor to the wire 0.

From the above it will be seen that the presence of a train in track section will first move signal 2 to the second position by closing relay 213 over wire 18; next moving signal 4: to the second position by closing relay 4B over wire 28; and next moving sig nal 2' to the third or clear position by the closing of relay 2D over wire 28.

When the train enters section X, track relay EA will bedeenergized and contact" 2K will be disconnected from wire 220 and connected to wire 0. This will eliminate from the circuit, over wire 28, the 100 ohm resistance 2L and the ohm resistance of relay 2D, thereby increasing the current over wire 28 sufficiently to close relay lG at signal a in advance of the train at the same time permitting signal 2 to go to danger position.

When the relay 4C is energized, the contact 4G will be opened thereby removing the shunt around the 150 ohm coil of the relay 4:0 and thereby inserting a resistance in the circuit equal to the resistance which was re moved from the circuit by the operation of the relay 2A. The relay to will not drop its armature because there will be enough current flowing through this relay to keep the armatures attracted after they are once drawn up. The closing of the contact all will cause the signal 6 to move to the second position which in turn will cause signal T4; to move to the third position, as above described with relation to signals 2 and 4t.

It will be seen from the above description that the wire 28 has been used for three distinct functions-first, to close relay 413 at signal 4, movin signal a to the second position; second, to close relay 2D at signal 2, moving signal 2 to the third position; and,

third, to close relay lG, which in turn,

through its front contact 4H, closes the circuitfor moving the next signal in advance to the second position.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a normal danger three-position sig nalingsystem, the combination of two sigshort-circuits resistance nals, a two-wirecircuit connecting said signals in which the current flowsin one direction only, a compound wound relay at the second signal for controlling the movement or said signal from danger to et5 and holding same in the latter position, :means whereby the operation of said signal to 45 in said circuit thereby increasing the current in said cir cult and means at the first signal responsive to the increased current for moving said first signal from 45 to 90.

2. In a normal danger three-position signaling system, the combination of two signals, a two-wire circuit connecting said nals in which the current flows in onedirection only, a compound wound relay at the second signal. for controlling the movement to 45 of said second signal and holding the same in the latter position, means whereby the operation of said signal to 45 short-circuits resistance thereby increasing the current in said circuit,means at the first signal responsive to the increased current for moving said first signal from 45to 90, a track relay at the first signal to short-cm 'cuit a resistance in said circuit and means it the second signal responsive to the increased current for moving to 45 a signal hn advance of said second signal.

In a three-position normal danger sigialing system, a plurality of signals, a twowire circuit connecting adjacent signals in whmh the current flows in the same direction at all times, means dependent upon track conditions of the block in rear of a.

given signal for establishing a circuit between the given signal and one immedi- I ately in advance thereof, whereby the ad vance signal is moved to Q5", means at the I advance signal and under the control thereof for increasing the current in said circuit, whereby said given signal is moved from 45 to 90 and a track relay atthe given signal for further increasing the current in said circuit, and means at the second signal for reducing the current in the same upon the periormance off its requn'ed func-' tion.

t, In a lI-lll'QB-POSllllC-lt normal danger block signaling system, two signals, a twowire circuit connecting the said signals, a relay and resistance located at one signal and two relays located at the second signal all in said circuit, a source of current for said circuit, means at the said first signal dependent upon track conditions of the block in rear of said first signal for closing said circuit, whereupon said second signal will be moved from zero to 4L5", means under the control of said second signal for increasing the current in said circuit where by said relay at the first signal will be operated, thereby causing the movement of said first signal from 45 to'90, a normally energized track relay at the first signal adapted, when deenergized to disconnect from said circuit the relay and resistance at said first signal, thereby further increasing the current in said circuit and .rendering responsive the relay at said second signal whereby a similar circuit is closed to operate to a signal in advance of said second signal, and means at the second signal. for reducing the current in the circuit between the first and second signals upon the completion of its function.

5. In a three-position normal danger signaling system, two signals, a two-wire circuit connecting said signals in which the current flows in one direction only, a relay and resistance located at said first signal, high and low resistance relays having coils of different resistance located at the second signal, all connected in said circuit, means at the first signal dependent upon track conditions of the block in rear of said first signal for closing said circuit whereby only the high resistance relay at the second s1gnal is energized, thereby moving the second signal from zero to 45, means under the control of the second signal for short-circuiting the high resistance coil of said high resistance relay and still maintaining said relay operated, thereby increasing the current in said circuit to operate the relay at the said firs" signal, means under the control of the relay at said first signal for moving said first signal from 45 to 90, a normally encrgiztail track relay at the first signal adapted, when deenergized, to open circuit the relay and resistance at said first signal, thereby energizing the low res 1stance relay at said second. signal and closing a circuit for operating a signal in advance of said second signal from zero to 45, and means for reducing the current in said circuit after it has functioned.

(S. In a threeposition normal danger block signaling system, the combination of two signals, a two-wire circuit connecting said signals including resistance and relays responsive to differing current values, means at the first signal dependent upon track conditions of the block in rear of said first signal for closing said circuit, means at said second signal responsive to the current upon initial closure of said circuit for moving said second signal from zero to 45. means under the control of said second signal for increasing the current and means at the first signal responsive only to the increased current for operating the first signal from 45 to 90 and means for reducing the current in said circuit after it has functioned.

7. In a block signaling systen'i, the combination of two signals, a two-wire circuit connecting said signals including resistance and relays responsive to differing current values, means at the first signal dependent upon track conditions of the block in rear of said first signal for closing said circuit, means at said second signal responsive to the current upon initial closure of said circuit for moving said second signal from zero to 45", means under the control of said second signal for increasing the current, means at the first signal responsive only to the increased current for operating the first signal from 45 to 90", a track relay at the first signal adapted, when denergized, to still further increase said current and a second means at said second signal responsive only to the increased current for closing a similar circuit between said second sig nal and a signal in advance thereof and means for reducing the current in said circuit after it has functioned.

8. In a normal danger three-position signaling system, the combination of two signals, a two-wire circuit connecting said signals in which the current flows in one direction only, means at the second signal for controlling the movement of said signal from danger to caution, means whereby the operation of said signal to caution increases the current in said circuit i'naintaining said first means operated, means at the first signal responsive to the increased current for moving said first signal from caution to clear, means at the first signal for further increasing the current in said circuit and means at the second signal responsive to the further increased current for moving to cantion a signal. in advance of said second sig nal, and means at said second signal for reducing the current in said circuit after it has functioned.

9. In a three-position normal danger signaling system, a plurality of signals, a twowire circuit connecting adjacent signals in which the current flows in one direction only, means dependent upon track conditions of the block in rear of a given signal for establishing a circuit between the given signal and one immediately in advance thereof whereby the advance signal is moved from danger to caution, means at the advance signal and under the control thereof for increasing the current in said circuit whereby said given signal is moved from caution to clear and means at the given signal for further increasing the current in said circuit and means for reducing the cur rent in said circuit after it has functioned.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

OLIN B. FRINK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addresllng the Commissioner of mum,

Washington, D. 0. 

